[Tsundoku]

Norway's "investment" in the referee and VAR operators went well for them.

There have been quite a few VAR howlers in this tournament. It was supposed to make it easier.

And yes, we benefitted from one versus Brasil.

This post has been edited by Tsundoku: 23 June 2019 - 12:35 AM

[Malankazooie]

That first PK by Australia was choketasic and shitty AF. Might as well have put a kangaroo on the pitch to take it. Norway deserved the win.

[Tsundoku]

Yeah we were shit in the first half and our defence has been diabolical all tournament.

But jeez, when VAR gets it wrong, they don't muck about.

This post has been edited by Tsundoku: 23 June 2019 - 08:03 AM

[Malankazooie]

An unremarkable win by our ladies against Spain. Two penalty kicks for a 2-1 win. Second penalty was suspect. That goal we gave up was stupid too. Hope we shook out that mediocrity because France is next. Hooboy, is that one shaping up to be a donnybrook.

[Tavvar]

I'm quite excited for USA-France tomorrow. Hope the US shows better than vs. Spain though!

[Gorefest]

Spain has definitely revealed the weakness of the US team. They are liable to make mistakes in defense when pressed high. This is interesting as there are some teams still left in the tournament (e.g. the Netherlands) who do just that. Haven't seen any France matches so not sure if they have the capacity in their attack to put on sustained high pressure.

[Malankazooie]

Whew. That was a challenge. Our ladies sent them frogs hopping (2-1). But damn, did France press and push our defense to maximum exhaustion. Our defense suffered like it hasn't this whole world cup (or in quite some time imo). We rose to the challenge. Absolutely over the moon impressed by them and my gratitude for only allowing one goal knows no limits. Crystal Dunn's neutralizing of Kadidiatou DIani was nothing short of spectacular. Thing is, suffering like that and pulling that kind of effort out of yourself could mean a major let down against England.

[Gorefest]

My two teams (Netherlands and UK) are still in it. Very poor display from the Netherlands again though in the first half, it is a miracle we got this far really. Still, qualification for the Olympic games is in the pocket and that was the main target. Now it is Sweden in the semis. Let's see where this ends.

[Malankazooie]

Didn't really like that performance against England. The sharpness and precision of our ball control was lacking. We can do (and have done) better in that regard. England didn't press our defense as much as France, well, maybe in the 2nd half it could be argued they did, but overall, I don't think our defense wast tested as much by England. Nice save by our GK on the penalty kick. It was sort of a crappy crack at a PK by England though. Match got chippy too. England ended up with just 10 on the field in the 2nd half after two yellow cards.

Well, there can always be a letdown, but I think most experts would agree that getting through France and then England was the toughest stretch of this run to a World Cup final. Just hope my ancestral land, Sweden, beats Netherlands, then I'll be quite chuffed and over the moon regardless who wins the World Cup.

[Gorefest]

Go Netherlands! 😉


In all fairness, I cannot see anyone beat this US team. Even running on 50% they obliterate most of the competition. Don't see either Sweden or the Netherlands have much of a chance. Still rootig for a Dutch victory though!

[Gorefest]

Oh dear gods, this match is poor. US-England should have been the final really, that match was lightyears ahead of this sordid affair. Regardless of who wins tonight, the US will have a field day on Sunday. And the UK should breeze into third. Netherlands is dreadfully poor, Sweden is probably marginally better. I am Dutch but at this point I am just genuinely hoping for anyone to score, Dutch or Swedish, just so this torture will end.

This post has been edited by Gorefest: 03 July 2019 - 09:03 PM

[Gorefest]

Well, the Netherlands it is. I am very chuffed for our ladies, but oh dear, are they in for an ass-whooping by the US on Sunday. Sweden had a 100% penalty withheld too. A preemptive congrats, Mal, and please get your US squad to go gentle on us Dutchies this Sunday.

[Malankazooie]

Congrats to you Gory. I actually won't be too disappointed if the Netherlands wins. Our ladies are a little to full of the themselves.

Besides, I like the Netherlands too. Remember when the men's team had Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, and Robin Van Persie. I think that was the 2010 squad? A fun team to watch.

[Macros]

When Alonso got drop kicked in the chest in the final?

[Macros]

I always liked the Dutch team but never liked Robben, never forgave him for the most blatant bit of diving/cheating I have ever seen, getting Riena sent off

[Gorefest]

I sympathise, he is one of those players who is great to have playing for you, but not against. I have the same with Ronaldo. Absolutely despise his antics at times, but I would probably kiss the ground he walks on if I were a Portugal fan. Robben is an amazing player, but I do very much dislike his little mannerisms and his dives.

I'm not a big fan of the 2014 Dutch team either, specifically because of this. Great players individually, but it probably was the most negative Dutch team that we ever fielded. The best Dutch squads were 1974 (Cruijff), 1978, 1988, and 1998. I still have very fond memories of the 2014 group stage, where we beat reigning world champions Spain 5-1. But the 2010 WC final we played against Spain still fills me with embarrassment. In our defense though, we weren't the only ones kicking and diving, Spain was doing so as well. But we definitely came out looking worse in that encounter.

[Macros]

Oh absolutely agree, but it's the studs in chest is the lasting image of that final. Much like Zizis headbutt in France.

[Gorefest]

Hmmm, 4 years ago USA was already 5-0 or 5-1 up or something like that. The Netherlands is defending well. Mainly defending though, can't seem to make much of an attacking threat.

[Gorefest]

Still, rather this than humiliation.

[Gorefest]

Very easy penalty, but oh well. It was deserved after a long period of pressing.